This morning’s headline has overwhelmed me: Report Identifies More Than 1,000 Victims of Priest Abuse. Pennsylvania Attorney General, Josh Shapiro, released a scathing grand jury report that outlined an investigation into allegations of child abuse conducted by Catholic priests, and covered up by the Church’s hierarchy. “Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men […]
Christian Living
Why I’m No Longer Christian
I understand that many will be surprised, if not shocked by my announcement. This decision was not made without careful consideration. As a matter of fact, I had given the issue a lot of thought before reaching my conclusion. So, yeah. I’ve decided that I no longer wish to be considered Christian. Let me explain. […]
What Happens To Me When I Die?
Strangely, this question has surfaced several times in the last few weeks. I say “strangely” because I don’t recall it being asked in a very long time. Then, I heard it three times in that many weeks. That seemed strange to me. So, what happens to me when I die? This is an interesting question […]
What Exactly is “Faith?”
For many people, religion is a very peculiar system. To them, it falls into the same class as fairy tales, unicorns, and mythology. It may be a nice story for old women and the uneducated, but for the thinking person it’s not a rational thing. One of the reasons that many think this way is […]
Sergei Kourdakov and the Quest for Truth
This blog post is unlike any that I’ve ever written. It is about a Russian naval defector, a mysterious death, a best-selling book, a journalist’s vision, a broken heart that longed to be heard, and a mystery that gripped an investigator. A Russian Naval Defector By all accounts, on the night of 03 Sept 1971, […]
My Citizenship
(This blog was originally posted as a Facebook note on Nov 8, 2012.) Because I was born in this country, the United States considers me its citizen. However, I have a greater, and far more important citizenship. My citizenship is in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God recognizes no natural or man-made boundaries. […]
Religion Just Isn’t Relevant For Me
Those who routinely read my blog will know that I often write on topics having to do with the reasonableness of faith. In other words, I like to explain why having a belief in the existence of God is rational. However, there are some who are simply unimpressed. It’s not that they don’t follow or […]
Are Tattoos and Body Piercings Sinful?
This question comes up frequently. I think this is because of the rise in popularity of tattoos and body piercings. When I was a small boy, it seemed only gangsters and servicemen had tattoos. Today, grandmothers, choir members, and even preachers are getting them. Many, who would never have considered getting “inked,” are changing their […]
Why Are You You and Not Someone Else?
I’ve had this thought many times. Most recently, it occurred to me as I was in the check-out line at The Dollar Store. The clerk was a slightly overweight, 20-ish female with multiple body piercings and purple highlighted hair. As we briefly chatted, those oft-repeated questions bubbled to the surface of my mind again. Why […]
Stop Claiming Jesus Is Returning Soon
If you look closely you’ll notice that the Church has a black eye. She’s had it for a long time. And, just when it seems like it’s going to heal, along comes another blow that brightens the bruise. The bruise that threatens to mar the reputation of the Church is the often-cited claim that Jesus […]